Griffon Update gets Updated
Briana Reed
KGSM-TV is preparing to stream its first ever live newscast in Griffon Media history in the next two weeks. Last semester, students involved in Griffon Media asked the Student Government Association for a grant in order to bring the studio space back to life by adding new features such as more cameras, lighting equipment and a fully renovated sound room.
Griffon Media is all the media available at Missouri Western from newspaper, yearbook and the class course, Griffon Update. Stories of all types are showcased on KGSM-TV such as news, sports, lifestyles, features, breaking news and more. It provides students, faculty and staff with the latest news in the Saint Joseph community and especially on campus.
Zoe Jones, a senior at Missouri Western, is the Executive Director of KGSM-TV. Jones oversees all things related to KGSM like putting together story ideas for the show, the design and makes sure all students feel comfortable with their positions on set. Jones shares a little bit about her experience as the Executive Director and how she is looking forward to the live newscast.
“I watch people come in who have no idea what they’re doing when it comes to journalism and they leave the program as these amazing journalists,” Jones said. “ What I’m really excited for with having this new TV studio is watching people come in who have never been on camera before walk out of here with amazing stuff to put on their reel,” Jones said proudly.
When it comes to producing content for KGSM-TV to go live, the students have all the control. They are behind the cameras, running the teleprompter, making sure the lighting is just right and the sound is clear. Students enrolled in the Griffon Update are responsible for creating video packages for the news anchors to report on during the show.
Student journalist, also a senior at Missouri Western, Jessica Stallard has aspirations of becoming a news producer once she graduates. As the producer of the show, she runs the V-mix station which is the app used to create the live shows and this is her favorite new feature. She gets the most hands-on experience with all the new features in the sound room like the soundboard, headphones to speak directly to Jones as well as microphones and earpieces for the anchors as she gives them cues throughout the show.
Stallard believes that Griffon Media as a whole prepares students for the real world, and having the opportunity to produce KGSM will help her tremendously.
“I’ve never touched v-mix, this is my first time using it and I think since real tv stations and productions do live, I think it’s really going to help me be able to go out into the real world and push me further in with job applications,” Stallard said.
Jones, Stallard and the rest of the team at KSGM have the opportunity to display what collegiate students are able to do and prove that when they graduate, they will become assets to any company or business they desire to be a part of. It’s safe to say that everyone is excited to see what Griffon Media has in store this semester.
